The 2026-27 Budget: Medi-Cal Analysis

Mar 2, 2026 - One possible reason for our higher estimate is that our model reflects not only disenrollment among current enrollees, but also reduced enrollment flows over time and a persistent risk of disenrollment among eligible individuals due to added administrative burden.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5146

The 2026-27 Budget: Department of Developmental Services

Mar 13, 2026 - The department stated that its budget projections for 2026 ‑27 do not incorporate any potential added costs due to the changes in H.R 1. Will the department be able to determine whether its costs increase in the future due to H.R. 1?
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5157

The 2021-22 Budget: Assessment of CalHEERS Dashboard

Mar 25, 2021 - The administration and stakeholders emphasize the iterative nature of the dashboard, which they view as a benefit of its design. Moreover, the current version of the dashboard appears comprehensive and suggests progress towards improved identification and prioritization of Medi ‑Cal eligibility functionality issues in CalHEERS.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4408

Considering Medi-Cal in the Midst of a Changing Fiscal and Policy Landscape

Oct 24, 2025 - …But Potentially With Added Complexity. Adding more flexibilities also could come with the potential downside of more complexity for beneficiaries and counties. For example, exempting high unemployment counties from work requirements could create more volatility.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5083

The 2025-26 Budget: Understanding Recent Increases in the Medi-Cal Senior Caseload

Mar 6, 2025 - In the paragraphs that follow, we provide our analysis that results in ou r estimate of at least 165,000 seniors being added due to eligibility expansions since 2020. (As a consequence of this estimate, it follows naturally that we estimate up to 60,000  seniors being added due to the effects of continuous coverage, the unwinding, and unwinding flexibilities, for a total increase of 225,000 seniors due to policy changes.)
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5010

Building California’s Behavioral Health Infrastructure: Progress Update and Opportunities for the Proposition 1 Bond

Feb 5, 2025 - Strategies to do so have included expanding the behavioral health workforce; adding benefits and increasing rates in Medi ‑Cal; and increasing capacity through managed care plans, schools, and in other  settings.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4954

The 2023-24 Budget: Overview of the Governor's Budget

Jan 13, 2023 - (That is, in our view, these costs would not have occurred absent legislative action and as a result do not contribute to the budget problem the Legislature faces today.) Comparison to LAO November Outlook.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4662

The 2021-22 Budget: LAO Preliminary Comments on the May Revision Medi-Cal Budget

May 21, 2021 - Potential users and uses of the service include Medi ‑Cal beneficiaries, who could access the portal to view their own clinical service records; Medi ‑Cal providers, who could view patients ’ prior responses to standard medical assessments; and state policymakers, who could use the data and associated analytics to identify and serve members with elevated risk and generally inform care quality and needs.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4436

An Update on the Public Health Laboratory System After the Pandemic

Jun 12, 2025 - Combining these metrics with similar information for the state laboratory would give a high-level view of the current capacity of the public health laboratory system as a whole. While some of the data related to local public health laboratories is already collec ted, such as LHJ ’s spending plans for FoPH funding, these data have not yet been used to inform an assessment of the public health laboratory system ’s overall capacity.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5056

Mental Health Services Act: Proposed Bond to Fund Behavioral Health Facilities and Veterans Housing

Aug 17, 2023 - In our view, these elements of the Governor ’s proposed bond are broadly reasonable. …But Also Raises Questions for Legislative Consideration How Would Local Governments Fund Ongoing Costs to Support Permanent Housing?
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4790